Furniture supporting frame structure

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to the frame, and particularly the leg structure of articles of furniture, such as tables, desks, chairs, and the like, and consists of securing the tubular frame members and legs together by elongated bolts extending therethrough.

United States Patent Inventor Norvln J. Wehner Kansas City, Mo.

Appl. No. 140

Filed Jan. 2, I970 Patented Nov. 23, I97 I Assignee Cramer Industries, Inc.

Kansas City, Kans.

FURNITURE SUPPORTING FRAME STRUCTURE 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 248/l88.7,

108/101, 211/177, 287/54 C Int. Cl. A47b 57/00 Fieldolsearch... 248/188,

188.7,165;108/150,156,59, 153,101,155; 287/20 R, 54 C, 56, 54 A, 54 R; 21 1/177, 148, 182

Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Attorney- Fishbum, Gold and Litman ABSTRACT: This invention relates to the frame, and particularly the leg structure of articles of furniture, such as tables, desks, chairs, and the like, and consists of securing the tubular frame members and legs together by elongated bolts extending therethrough.

PATENTEnunv 23 I97! m MW Y m 27% {R n o 4 w W 2 a A N FURNITURE SUPPORTING FRAME STRUCTURE Heretofore, in articles of fumiture, chairs, and the like, wherein tubular frame members and legs are used as a frame structure, such tubular frames have been welded together for supporting the article of furniture. Applicant has found that by the use of bolts extending through the tubular framework structure and legs, a stronger frame is accomplished, with less cost than welding.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an article of furniture having a framework structure wherein the supporting tubular legs and tubular frame members are secured together by elongated bolts or the like; to provide an opening in the upper frame member and the lower frame member for receiving the respective ends of the leg portion of the frame; to provide spaced openings for receiving the bolts through the upper and lower frame members; and to provide means on the bolts for tightening said bolts through the leg members to the frame members to make a rigid structure.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a cap plate within the upper frame member having two depending threaded bosses for reception of the threaded end of the bolt structure therein, to tighten the frame pieces together, and to provide a device of this character simple and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an article of furniture such as a table.

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the end of the table showing the bolts in dotted lines and parts broken away to better illustrate the construction.

FlG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on a line 4-4, FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a modified from of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a table embodying the features of my invention, having a top 2 and a supporting frame structure as shown at 3 and 4. The supporting frame structure may be made of metal, such as aluminum, steel, or the like, and preferably tubular in form. As the frame structures 3 and 4 are identical, only one will be described.

5 designates an upper crossmember, and 6 a lower crossmember, and 7 the legs of the frame structure. By reference to FIG. 4, it will be seen the lower side 8 of the crossmember 5 is provided with an opening 9 and the upper side 10 of the lower crossmember 6 is provided with an opening 11 aligning with the opening 9. The upper side 12 of the crossmember 5 and the lower side 13 of the lower crossmember 6 are provided with spaced openings as indicated at 14 and 15 and 16 and 17, respectively, for receiving bolts or the like 18 and 19. The bolts are provided with heads 20 to overlap the ends of the legs 7 and the opposite ends are threaded as indicated at 21 for receiving washers 21 and nuts 22, also overlapping the upper ends of the legs 7 for drawing the upper and lower crossmembers together to fonn a rigid structure. The lower crossmembers are provided near their outer ends with feet as indicated at 23 and 24. These feet may be glides or other structure in common use.

When the frame structure is thus assembled as just above described, the top 2 is then placed thereover and secured by suitable means, such as screws not shown). The underside of the top 2 has recessed portions as indicated at 25 for receiving the threaded ends and nuts of the bolts, so that they will be undisclosed in use.

In FIG. 5 I have shown a modified fonn of the structure wherein the bolts 26 and 27 are of shorter length than the bolts 18 and 19, and the leg 28 is shortened so as to stop short of the underside 14' of the top of the upper crossmember 5. A cap member 29 is provided for partially closing the upper end of the leg 28 and is provided with portions for engaging the top 29' of the cap member, as shown in FIG. 5. The cap member 29 is provided with spaced openings 29" for receiving internally threaded sleeves or hub members 30 and 31 for receiving the threaded end 32 and 33 of the bolts 26 and 27. The hub members 30 and 31 have head portions 30 and 31' for engaging over the openings 29" and over the upper ends of the legs 28. In assembling the device of this structure, the bolts are provided with hexagon or square-shaped heads 34 which overlap the lower ends of the legs 28 and the bolts are turned to engage in the threaded hubs 30 and 31 until they are completely tight and a rigid frame structure is fonned. The top (not shown) for this form of structure need not be recessed and is secured to the top of the frame structure by suitable means as described with the first form.

It will be obvious the legs in both forms of the invention may be secured to the upper and lower members by welding or other suitable means.

It is obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved supporting structure for an article of furniture, such as tables, chairs, or the like, not obvious to one skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described two fonns of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

I claim:

1. A supporting frame structure for an article of furniture or the like comprising:

a. upper tubular members and lower tubular members, said upper members having upper and lower walls,

b. tubular leg members, the top of said leg members being spaced from the upper wall of said upper tubular members,

c. means securing said legs in vertical position to said upper and lower members,

d. a cap member secured in said upper tubular member and partially closing the same, said cap member having de pending bosses provided with threads therein,

e. at least one bolt extending through said leg members and said lower members and into the upper members, and

f. threaded means on said bolts for engaging said threaded bosses in said cap member for tightening said members together to form a rigid structure.

2. The structure of claim I wherein said upper and lower tubular members have facing openings for receiving said leg members.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said lower side of said lower tubular member has spaced openings in alignment with said legs for receiving said bolts. 

1. A supporting frame structure for an article of furniture or the like comprising: a. upper tubular members and lower tubular members, said upper members having upper and lower walls, b. tubular leg members, the top of said leg members being spaced from the upper wall of said upper tubular members, c. means securing said legs in vertical position to said upper and lower members, d. a cap member secured in said upper tubular member and partially closing the same, said cap member having depending bosses provided with threads therein, e. at least one bolt extending through said leg members and said lower members and into the upper members, and f. threaded means on said bolts for engaging said threaded bosses in said cap member for tightening said members together to form a rigid structure.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower tubular members have facing openings for receiving said leg members.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said lower side of said lower tubular member has spaced openings in alignment with said legs for receiving said bolts. 